Rand Paul: Immigration Deal Could Threaten Boehner’s Speakership

Sen. Rand Paul suggested Friday that John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, could lose his speakership if he allowed anything similar to the Senate’s immigration bill to ever get through the House.

Paul made his comments during an appearance on conservative talk show host Laura Ingraham’s radio show during which he predicted that Boehner wouldn’t permit such a bill to emerge from a House-Senate immigration conference.

“I’m worried about conference,” the Kentucky Republican said. “The only way to avoid a problem with conference is for the speaker of the House to say we are not going to conference, and we will not allow a vote on anything coming out of conference that resembles the Senate bill, and if there were a much more limited bill that emphasizes border security first, that we would do that.”

“I think … if he allows something to pass out of conference that looks anything like the Senate bill and is passed with a majority of Democrats, I think that will be the final thing he does as speaker. So, I think he knows that, and I think he’s going to be very cautious, and I hope he will defend us on this and not pass something that looks like the Senate bill.”

For his part, Paul is renewing his call for annual votes in Congress on how successfully any immigration law would be implemented.

“I want Congress to be in charge of whether the border’s secure or not, not the president, whether it’s a Republican or Democrat president, I want Congress to be in charge because I have more trust in the people’s representatives because they’re closer to the people,” Paul said. “Is it perfect? Probably not perfect, but that’s what I want to have happen.”

Ingraham asked Paul what the chances are the Kentucky Republican would be able to back any deal that was also supported by New York Democratic Sen. Charles E. Schumer, a member of the Senate’s “gang of eight” on immigration.

“I’d be quite doubtful,” Paul said. “If they have to get everything they want, no way can I vote for that. If they’re willing to dial it back … then there’s a possibility, but we’ll see.”

Members of the gang of eight have said that a path to citizenship is a requirement for any final deal. That’s a point that Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., reiterated at an immigration forum held by The Arizona Republic and KPNX-TV earlier this week that featured McCain and his Arizona GOP colleague Jeff Flake.

“It’s my view that the fundamental principle of this legislation has to contain a path to citizenship,” McCain said.

“I don’t accept your premise that the House of Representatives will absolutely reject a path to citizenship,” McCain said at the same event in response to a question from USA Today’s Alan Gomez.

The Senate bill is a disaster. The House should focus on immigration enforcement. Make E-Verify mandatory and deport all illegal aliens.

Doug Watson

Kindly explain the logistics and costs of deporting 11 million people! Oh yes, what is the additional cost of caring for their children born here and who are U. S. citizens by law and have a right to stay? Simplistic, stupid solutions, the mantra of conservative tea party lightweights……go back to watching demolition derby its fits your intellect.

Charles Edward Brown

The cost of deporting 11 million illegal aliens is only a fraction of the cost of the Trillions of dollars we will spend supporting them and their families. Since you are so rich, why don’t I send you my property tax bill and you can pay to send the children of these illegal aliens to my public schools.

Liberty: Minimized Coercion

Collectivism’s intellectual fraud is partly illuminated by the observation that, since we’re all different, collectivist attempts to impose equality require that each of us be treated unequally.

john4637

Any changes made in our immigration law should exactly mirror the immigration law of Mexico. I feel that would solve many problems, especially on our side of the border !

greggy44

I hope and have complete confidence that the pubes in the Republican party will prevent an immigration bill from coming to the floor of the House for at least a couple more cycles. This alone will ensure that the Republicans will not get back to the White House or the majority in the Senate. Every single day more old white guys die and more minorities reach voting age. If these minorities can be convinced to turn out en mass in ‘2014’ off year in just a few Republican states, the Dems will have a genuine shot of taking back the House in 2016 presidential election.

Daniel Leyva

So, he is no libertarian, as he misrepresent himself. He is just another teabagger/America hater.

Granny

McCain is a RINO who should either retire or change his party affilation. No Amnesty for people who have broken our laws to enter our country.

George Ramos

Since our minds develop along with the civilization in which we grow up, we are naturally unfamiliar with the unseen history of the customs and traditions we practice.

BRush

The political goal is to create millions of new Democratic voters. Why in the hell would Republicans go along with this? This government is actively engaged in turning our nation into a third world country. It’s time to start again with a New America.
John Galt Take Me With You dotcom

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About #WGDB

Niels Lesniewski has covered the Senate for CQ Roll Call since January 2010, and more recently as a staff writer and resident procedure guru for Roll Call. Niels holds degrees in both government and theater but sometimes can't tell the difference between the two. @nielslesniewski